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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. bank — of a river
  4. object — an aim
  5. bank — for money
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. can — a tin
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. can — to be able to
  10. hand — in cards
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. saw — the tool
  16. hand — help
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. trunk — of an elephant
  19. bank — for money
  20. can — a tin
  21. saw — the tool
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. object — a thing

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com